Plant Pest and Disease Programs

Plant Pest and Disease Programs
PPQ responds to many new introductions of plant pests to eradicate, suppress, or contain them through various programs in cooperation with state departments of agriculture and other government agencies. These may be emergency or longer term domestic programs that target a specific regulated pest.

Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) ProgramPPQ ensures that new introductions of harmful plant pests and diseases are detected as soon as possible, before they have a chance to cause significant damage. To accomplish this, PPQ and its State cooperators carry out surveys for high-risk pests through a network of cooperators in the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) program.

Crop Biosecurity and Emergency Management
PPQ provides national leadership and coordination in crop biosecurity and emergency management. As the lead Federal agency for plant health emergencies, PPQ works cooperatively with national and international plant protection organizations; Federal, State, tribal, and local agencies; universities; industries; and private entities in developing and implementing science-based framework designed to provide optimum protection against invasive pests and diseases.

Biological Control
PPQ works with cooperators to import, screen, develop, release, implement, monitor, and transfer biological control technologies to prevent the establishment, slow the spread, and manage pests of significant economic, environmental or regulatory importance.